Kunstformen der Natur [Art Forms in Nature]

Leipzig & Vienna: Bibliographisches Institit, 1904. First edition. Contemporary half-morocco. Fine. FIRST EDITION OF HAECKEL'S BEAUTIFUL AND HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL COLLECTION OF "ART FORMS OF NATURE", WITH 100 STUNNNING FOLIO PLATES, MOST COLORED. "The geometric shapes and natural forms, captured with exceptional precision in Ernst Haeckel's prints, still influence artists and designers to this day... Powerful modern microscopes have confirmed the accuracy of Haeckel's prints, which even in their day, became world famous. Haeckel's portfolio, first published between 1899 and 1904 in separate installments... illustrate Haeckel's fundamental monistic notion of the 'unity of all living things' and the wide variety of forms are executed with utmost delicacy. Incipient microscopic organisms are juxtaposed with highly developed plants and animals. The pages, ordered according to geometric and 'constructive' aspects, document the oneness of the world in its most diversified forms. This collection of plates was not only well-received by scientists, but by artists and architects as well. Rene Binet, a pioneer of glass and iron constructions, Emile Galle, a renowned Art Nouveau designer, and the photographer Karl Blossfeld all make explicit reference to Haeckel in their work" (Breidbach, Olaf. et al. Art Forms in Nature).

"From the delicately intricate architecture of micro-organisms such as diatoms and algae, to the graceful variations of hummingbird species, Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) visually explored the diversity of life on Earth through his stylistic and painstakingly detailed illustrations. These artworks opened people's eyes to the complexity of life forms rarely seen by his contemporaries. Even in today's world of high resolution photography and digital archiving, these illustrations remain wondrous. While it would be ideal to have more information about the images themselves, Art Forms in Nature is a mesmerising collection of science and art history" (Ten Great Books on Scientific Illustration).

The plates were originally published in sets of ten before collected in this first edition. WITH: Supplement bound-in.

Two volumes bound in one. Leipzig & Vienna: Bibliographisches Institit, 1904. Folio (10.5 x 14), contemporary half-morocco; later endpapers. Fading to spine. In outstanding condition with text nearly pristine and plates extraordinarily bright.